Bicycle



(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. MARBLE.

BICYCLE.

No. 328,499. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

WITNESSES INVENTOR BY .s mwzw d W ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. W.MARBLE.

BICYCLE.

Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: I

5%; b/c Lg ATTORNEY FFICE@ GEORGE XV. MARBLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,499, dated October20, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MARBLE, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Bicycles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objections heretofore made to most bicycles is their height and theliability to take headers when they meet an obstacle. The latterobjection has been overcome by a machine which has the small wheel infront, and this arrangement I adopt in my bicycle; but the formerobjection still exists in most, if not all, bicycles in current use, andthis I make it a special object to avoid by decreasing the diameter ofthe drive-wheel, journaling the pedals in oscillating arms fulcrumed onthe bearings of the drive-wheel, and providing suitable means forimparting the motion of said pedals to the d rive-wheel,substan tiallyas hereinafter fully described,and as illustrated in the drawings, inwhich Figure l is a side elevation. tail view showing a verticaltransverse section of thejournal and bearings of the drive-wheel. Figs.3 and 4 show, respectively, a plan and a side elevation of a modifiedform of the oscillating yoke; and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing amodified form of the steering-head.

Reference being had to the drawings, A represents the drive-wheel,having sprockets a a, made, preferably, integrant with the hubs, andhaving a spherical journal, I). These journals brest and revolvein thecorrespondingly bearing chambers of the bearings B. The bearings B arecircular in form, have a circumferential bead, b", on the edgecontiguous to the hub of the drivewheel, and are divided horizontallyand transversely through the center for convenience of manufacture andconstruction.

Secured to the outer surfaces of the bearing B, and provided with acircumferential flange, which adapts the same to fit over a portion ofthe circumference of the said bearings to keep the two parts thereoftogether, are the ends a c of the bifurcated reach (J. This reachGpursues a longitudinal coursefrom the drive-wheel to a point over thefront or guide wheel, D, intersected by a vertical line drawn throughthe axis of said wheel, where it terminates in a Vertical bearing, (1.This bearing is adapted to receive the tang of the front fork, D, whichlatter is provided at its upper end, just above the confines of thebearings, with a crescent, in the extremities of-which are journaled twoopposite arms of a cross-shape piece of flat steel. The other twoarms ofthis cross are journaled in the extremities of a corresponding crescentrigidly connected to and depending from the lower end of the guide-rodE, thus forming one of the ordinary forms of the swivel joint.

If desired, instead or" the forward end of the reach terminating in abearing, as shown, it may terminate in a neck having steering points orcenters, which are pivoted in sockets in the head of the front fork, D,which latter would have the crescent (referred to above) a'fiixed to itsupper end. This construction of the steering devices is shown in Fig. 5of the drawings, and is preferred to that previously described. Fig. 2is a de- The guide-rod E pursues a verlical oblique course to the rearof the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, and isjournaledin the tubular frame6. It is provided with the usual handles to manipulate it at its upperend. The frame 0 is secured at its lower end to the forward end of thereach 0 by means of a brace or web, (2', connecting the two parts, andits upper end is supported and maintained in position by means of therods f, which latter are secured in the ends 0 c of the bifurcated reach0, and the upper ends in a lug, f, extending to the rear from the upperend of said frame 0.

Secured to the extremity of lug f is the bifurcated forward end of thesaddlespring F, which latter pursues a longitudinal course to the rearof a vertical lineintersecting the axis of said drive-wheel, where it issupported and maintained by therods g, the lower ends of which aresecuredlike rods fin the ends 0 c of the bifurcated reach 0.

Journaled 0r pivoted on the bearings B, be tween the bead b and the edgeof the circumferential flange of the ends of the bifurcated reach 0, isthe U frame or yoke G. Yoke Gtravels from one bearing around the treadof the drive-wheel to the other, and the angle at which it is maintainedto the plane of the reach is regulated by means of a segmental rodfh,projecting upward from the bend of said yoke, just in front of andfollowing the curvature of the drive-wheel, which passes through asuitable aperture made in that portion of the reach Gabout where thearms of the bifurcated end thereof meet, and is held in the positiondesired by means of a set-screw, h, passing laterally into the reachinsuch position as to impinge against and bite the same. If desired, therod it may be rigidly affixed to and extend downward from the reach andthrough the split endof the yoke G, where, by means of a screw passinglaterally through said split portions, the yoke can be clamped in anyposition desired, substantially as shown in Fig, 3.

Journaled in the arms of the yoke G a suitable distance from the pointof oscillation are the pedal-shafts z, to theouter ends of which areaffixed the cranksk, having the pedals near their extremities. On theinner end of the crank or pedal shaft is a sprocket-wheel, k, preferablyof a diameter greater than the sprockets a a, to which they impart theirmotion by means of alink chain, 1. Asit is desirable to have the bearingof the pedal-shaftadjustable longitudinally in or on the arms of theyoke for the twofold purpose of tightening the link chain I andaccommodating the reach or throw of the drivers leg, I have, as showninFigs. 3 and 4, suspended the bearings m below arms of the yoke by meansof cap-screws a a, which pass laterally through the lugs 0 0, extendingdownward on either side of said bearings from the under surface of thearms of the yoke, and into suitable recesses in the bearings. Thus byadvancing one screw n and withdrawing the other the hearings on may beadjusted within the limits of the lugs 0. If desired, there may be twoof the bearings m on each side of the drivewheel to support both ends ofthe pedal-shaft. In this eventl divide the arm of the yoke at p, 'asshown in the drawings, and suspend the bearings as above described, andplace the sprocket-wheel in the center of the shaft, so that its upperhalf moves between the parallel frames made by dividing the yoke. Thislatter construction of the bearings of the-pedalshatt is preferred; butfor acheaper machine the construction previously described, and shown inFig. 1, will answer.

In Fig. 3 is shown in section another bear; ing for the drive-wheel. Inthis the end of the bifurcated reach has a ring, which surrounds thecircular exterior or periphery of the bearing, and the ring of theoscillating 1 yoke is journaled on the ring of the ends of the reach.The remainder of the construction shown is'adapted to hold the rings ofthe reach and yoke in position.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction of mybicycle; but theseI claim as coming within the spirit of my invention.

WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In abicycle, the combination, with the drive-wheel, guide-wheel placed infront thereof, and saddle supported above said drivewheel, and framesfor supporting the same thereat, of the pedals, adjustable frame inwhich said pedals are journaled, and means for imparting their motion tothe drive-wheel.

2. In a hicycle,-the combination, with the drive -wheel, guidewheelplaced in front thereof, and the bifurcated reach connecting saidwheels, of the adjustable yoke fulcrumed on the bearings of saiddrive-wheel, pedals journaled and radially adj ust-able therein, andmeans for imparting the motion of said pedals to the drive-wheel.

3. In a bicycle, the combination. with the drivewheel, guidewheel placedin front thereof, and bifurcated reach connecting said Wheels, of thecircular segmental rod h, the adjustable yoke Gr, having an aperture inits 'end, through which said rod passes, and screw by means of whichsaid yoke is adjusted and maintained inany position on said rod, pedalsjournaled in said yoke, and means for imparting the motion of saidpedals to the drivewheel. I

4. The combination, in a bicycle, with the drive-wheel, the axis ofwhich has spherical journals, of the bearing B, having a sphericalbearing-chamber and a circular exterior, the

oscillating yoke G, and bifurcated reach 0, fulcrumed and securedthereto, respectively.

5. The combination, in a bicycle, with the drive-wheeh'the axis of whichhas spherical journals, ofthe bearings B, made in two parts and having acircular circumference, the os-- cillating adjustable yoke, and thebifurcated reach, both of which have circular apertures in their ends,and are ournaled on said bearings, and means, substantially as shown,for securing them thereon.

6. The combination, with the drive-wheel 'of a bicycle, of yoke G,fulerumed on the bearings thereof, lugs o 0, extending downwardtherefrom, cap-screws n n, bearings m,

pedal-shafts t, journaled therein, and means.

for imparting their motion to the drive-wheel. Inv testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature, in presenceof two witnesses.

GEORGE W. MARBLE.

, Witnesses:

EDWARD W. SOHIRAOH,

FRANK D. THOMASON.

IIO

